Sending spiritual help to firefighters

A group of Chaplains sent by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada are on their way to Fort McMurray, offering spiritual help to firefighters.

Merle Doherty with the organization says, the physical needs of firefighters can be obvious, but the emotional stress can be hard to detected, and difficult to handle.

“Because we are also spiritual we have to engage with people to see how they’re doing.” says Doherty. “If they have that faith base, then we want to make sure that we touch people with that base as well, because that’s as important to them as the physical is and the emotional.”

Doherty adds that it doesn’t matter what faith anyone is, they will be there to engage with anyone that needs help.

The group is scheduled to stay for at least five weeks, to help residents when they return home.

Also going to Fort McMurray are members of the provinces Critical Incident Stress Management Team, to help firefighters who may be dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. While not mental health professionals, the members are trained in stress management, and draw from their personal experiences as first responders. tl/kb/supplied Photo